10 Years of the London Marathon: What I Learned

For nearly a decade, the London Marathon was the race I built my year around. I started as a first-time marathon runner finishing in 4:54, and over the years worked my way down to 3:28, chasing personal bests, learning more about training, racing and myself than I ever expected. But after nearly 10 years, I’ve made the decision to stop running the London Marathon. Chapters 0:00 Intro 1:30 5 tips for running London 6:00 Highs & Lows of 10 years 8:50 Why keep running it? 9:30 Why I am stopping 11:57 How did I drop my times 13:32 Conclusion This isn’t a video criticising one of the world’s greatest marathons. Far from it. London has given me unforgettable memories, incredible experiences and friendships that will stay with me forever. Instead, this is an honest reflection on what almost a decade of running the same iconic race has taught me, why my goals have changed, and why I feel it’s the right time to move on to new challenges. Along the way, I’ll also share five lessons I wish I’d known before my very first London Marathon—lessons that I believe will help anyone taking on the race for the first time. Whether you’re training for your first marathon, chasing a PB, or wondering what comes after achieving your goals, I hope my journey helps you on yours. If you’ve ever run the London Marathon, I’d love to hear your experience in the comments.